Helen J. Schuchert

Helen J. Schuchert, 93, of Palos Verdes Estates, passed away gracefully and peacefully on January 7, 2022, in the company of family and dedicated caregivers.

She was named after her mother, Helen, but nicknamed “Honey Girl” by her father, Dohrman. They raised Honey in Pittsburgh, PA., where she attended grade school and graduated from Peabody High School. Thereafter, Honey attended secretarial school and worked at Carnegie Mellon University, where she met Joseph Schuchert, her future husband. Married in 1951, they raised four children (Cindy, Susan, Michele, and Joey) in Mt. Lebanon, PA. In 1967 Helen and Joe moved the family to her beloved Palos Verdes Estates, CA.

In Mom’s words, she ran a “tight ship” to keep her crew on track and thriving, but no matter how busy, she always found time for solving crossword puzzles, especially the tough Sunday puzzle in the Los Angeles Times. Our mom also loved bridge and played weekly with several local groups.

Once her children were in college, Helen traveled the world with dear friends as well as mastered toile painting and needlepoint. She spent countless hours crafting items to sell at the annual Christmas bazaars benefitting the Special Children’s League (SCL). She would lead the South Bay chapter as president for several terms and remained an Active SCL member for decades.

Once grandchildren started arriving in 1981, Mom devoted herself to entertaining little ones who loved to swim in her pool, eat her Mickey Mouse pancakes and snuggle up in Honey’s bed to watch "Murder She Wrote". As her grandkids grew up, she stayed interested and involved. “How are the kids?” was always Honey’s first question.

As aging took its toll, Honey fought back valiantly, leaving her family and friends with fond memories of her wit, honesty, self-reliance, and fighting spirit.

Helen was predeceased by her parents, Dorm, and Helen; her brother, Robert; and former husband, Joseph S. Schuchert, Jr. She leaves behind four children and their spouses: Cynthia Olson (Charles), Susan Brown (John), Michele Halseide (Philip), Joseph S. Schuchert, III (Heather). Honey will be greatly missed by her eleven grandchildren: Christopher Olson (Meg), Courtney Dominguez (Phillip), Evan Brown, Bethany Brown, Brandon Halseide (Jae), Blake Halseide, Brittney Porter (Seth), Nicholas Schuchert (Kelsey), Jillian Smith (Trentin), James Schuchert (Kristen), and Joss Schuchert (Nicole). Her great-grandchildren include Reese and Waylon Olson, Dylan and Brooks Dominguez, London Porter, and Emma and Jack Schuchert.

Services will take place at Green Hills Mortuary on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Helen’s name to Special Children’s League, P.O. Box 2256, Palos Verdes Est., CA 90274 or online @ sclsouthbay.org.